Posted By Cosmic Kid on 07/17/2013 02:46 PM
It is very simple - if you don't like the speed at which others are descending, don't follow. If you are worried that you may die on a descent, go at a speed at which you are comfortable.

But don't whine about it after....

FFS, you could die in a sprint pile-up, but I don't hear sprinters saying "These guys are really crazy....could we all be a little more careful, please?"

Ya know? Buck up and go down the descent.

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It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong.

The sword cuts both ways for Contador, though. If you want to go downhill like a maniac as a weapon, sometimes you're going to fall over, and when you do, if someone decides not to wait, or to attack, hey s**t happens. Contador got his panties in a twist because he thought Quintana attacked when Contador fell.

But we aren't taling about complaints re: narrow finishes, road furniture, etc is not the same as complaining about the other riders. Sure, there may be the odd chirp about a guy whi is extremely reckless, but, as a rule, sprinters understand the dangers of their craft and accept it.

Bike racing is dangerous.....end of story. Don't wanna follow some kamikaze down the hill? Don't. Pretty simple. The consequences of ANY high speed mistake could be death....descending, sprinting, whatever.

Personally I appreciate descending skills more that sprint or TT,maybe because it's one of the things I'm decent at (even at my old age). Samuel Sanchez showing how it's done,basically having confidence and picking the correct line. HERE

OC, over on ST someone posted a Google Maps / street view link of the descent....as also apparent in your video, there are definitely a few sketchy sections.

However, I think it is important to remember that riders will likely be spread out after the first trip up l'Alpe and that road conditions, as I understand it, have been improved since this Spring. Dunno, though.

Cosmic - A guy I know from Brisbane (former Kiwi Olympian albeit track) went down it day before yesterday; being known for understatement he described it as "a little crazy". They've been riding the entire last week of tour starting with Ventoux. Little bit jealous altho I had my bit of fun last week.

“Listen, riders have been going down dangerous descents one thousand times before. They must hit the brakes and be careful,” Saxo boss Bjarne Riis told reporters. “This is a bike race; it’s not some Sunday morning grandma trip. They have to learn how to race their bikes and stop complaining.”

Don't hold back Bjarne!

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It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong.

Froome calling for the descent to be removed if it rains. Pretty obvious he sees this descent as the biggest threat to his GC. Surprise, Andy, Jens and Tony Martin agree. The holy trilogy of bike handling skills.. http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/07/news/froome-calls-for-sarenne-to-be-neutralized-if-rain-hits-alpe-dhuez_295693

"Officials from Tour owner ASO, however, told reporters in Chorges on Wednesday that there were no plans to neutralize the descent, regardless of the weather."